Home/Blog/Black Friday: how to shop online safely

Black Friday how to shop online safely

The best deals of the year also bring the most scams. Fake shops, fake delivery texts and copycat emails all spike in November.

Black Friday: how to shop online safely

Spot the fake deals

If a price looks far too good, check the shop. Look up reviews, check the web address carefully and look for real contact details.

Go to big retailers by typing their address yourself rather than clicking ads or links in emails.

Watch out for delivery texts

Texts saying a parcel is waiting for a small fee are one of the most common scams. Real couriers rarely ask for money by text.

Check your orders on the retailer site instead of clicking the link.

Keep payments safe

Pay by credit card or a trusted payment service where you can. It usually gives you more protection if something goes wrong.

Shopping on public Wi-Fi? Connect your VPN first, or wait until you are home.

Before you check out

  1. Check the web address is the real shop.
  2. Search for reviews of the seller.
  3. Pay by credit card or a trusted payment service.
  4. Avoid paying on public Wi-Fi without a VPN.

Black Friday: common questions

How do I know a shop is real?
Check the web address, reviews from other sites, and real contact details like a company name and address.
Does a VPN stop scams?
No. A VPN protects your connection, but it cannot tell you a shop is fake. Checking the seller is still on you.

More from the ROOT VPN blog

Keep reading, or browse every post.

Try ROOT VPN free.

Unlimited data, no card needed. Upgrade only if you want more devices or locations.

Get ROOT VPN, free